K-12 Vocal & Instrumental Star Spangled Banner Unit
What big ideas should students understand?
Historical Context
Why is a quality performance essential?
Context & Meaning of Lyrics
What projects could be designed for the unit?
1st Varsity Home Game: Performance & Community Outreach/Education (Grades 7-12)
SSB Mythbuster: The Historical Account of the Star Spangled Banner (Grades 5-12)
Myth: Francis Scott Key wrote the words and music.
Fact: Key wrote the lyrics only.
Fact: the music is from Anacreon in Heaven (by John Stafford Smith (music))
Myth: Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics while under siege.
Fact: Key wrote the lyrics while watching the battle of Fort McHenry near Baltimore, Maryland during the War of 1812. (Actually in September 1814)
Myth: There is only one verse to the SSB.
Fact: There are 4.
Myth: Betsy Ross made the flag to fly over Fort McHenry, comissioned by General George Amistad.
Fact: Mary Pickersgill was commissioned to sew the flag.
Myth: The War of 1812 only lasted one year.
Fact: The War of 1812 officially ended in December 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent.
Myth: The Battle of New Orleans took place before the Treaty of Ghent.
Fact: The Battle of New Orleans (January 1815) took place after the treaty was signed, with fighting finally ending in February 1815.
Survey of SSB Lyrics to Family & Friends (Grades 4-12)
Recite the lyrics to the SSB
Fill in the blank questions/actual flag sent home to write in the words
Reenactment of the SSB events found in the lyrics.(Grades K-12)
Reorganzie the phrases of the SSB (Grades 1-6)
Read and share "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Peter Spier (Grades K-6)
What are the objectives/learning goals?
Understand the context of verses found in the SSB
Know the Historical background of the SSB
Know the first verse (or more) of the SSB
Be able to sing or play the SSB alone or with others.
Identify the form of the SSB
What assessments will be used to measure learning?
Performance of the SSB in front of an audience.
Completion of listed projects
Written Assesments
Fill in the blank survey or worksheet
Organize SSB phrases
Acting out the lyrics to SSB (actual acting, sound play, etc)
What vocabulary terms will be important for students to learn and know?
1. Rampart, Dawn, Twilight, Gleaming, Gallantly, Proof, O'er, Hailed, Broad, Perilious, Streaming, Brave (Grades 3-12)
2. 3/4 Time Signature (Grades 4-12), Pickup Notes (5-12), Eighth Notes (1-12), Fermata (2-12), Phrases (7-12),
Dynamics (3-12) (within phrases 9-12), Breath Support (5-12), First and Second Endings (4-12)
Star Spangled Banner Lesson
Essential Questions
What unit/big topic will be used?
What big ideas should students understand?
What projects could be designed for the unit?
What are the objectives/learning goals?
What assessments will be used to measure learning?
What vocabulary terms will be important for students to learn and know?
1. Rampart, Dawn, Twilight, Gleaming, Gallantly, Proof, O'er, Hailed, Broad, Perilious, Streaming, Brave (Grades 3-12)
2. 3/4 Time Signature (Grades 4-12), Pickup Notes (5-12), Eighth Notes (1-12), Fermata (2-12), Phrases (7-12),
Dynamics (3-12) (within phrases 9-12), Breath Support (5-12), First and Second Endings (4-12)